Murdochgate crisis rocks capitalist establishment

In “normal” times the cosy and embedded links between the media, capitalist politicians and the state machine are hidden from the full view of working and middle class people. However, the Murdochgate scandal has exposed the rotten and corrupt underbelly of the capitalist elite to an audience of tens of millions.

The events of the last three weeks have blown the lid on the fraudulent and corrupt practices of the millionaire class. Millions of workers have been disgusted by the depths plunged by News International over the hacking of phones of the dead and the vulnerable. The lavish lifestyle of the media moguls, top politicians and police officers has also been dragged into the light. They stand in stark contrast to workers own experience of cuts and plummeting living standards.

This scandal has exposed the cynical merry-go-round whereby top police officers charged with investigating phone-hacking end up working for News International. News of the World editors and leading journalists secure employment with the police. Others become top advisors to the British political elite including the floundering Tory prime minister, David Cameron. Huge sums of money are paid out by News International to corrupt police for information and influence. At the same time the Crown Prosecution Service refuses to act for years despite mountains of evidence.    

The phone-hacking scandal has threatened to bring the Murdoch Empire crashing down. Their biggest selling newspaper, the News of the World has been shut. Murdoch’s own control over News Corp is under threat as an investigation into their practices in the US has been started. Political leaders, including Ed Milliband, who only a few weeks ago would give their right arm to be in the company of Murdoch and the “inner circle”, now treat him like a leper. Rupert Murdoch himself may soon be “retired” in an effort to save News Corp itself.

The Con-Dem coalition political “authority” has been weakened considerably as a result of the scandal. It will be even more difficult for the Con-Dem coalition to claim any legitimacy in seeking to carryout the huge attacks on living standards they plan in the months ahead. Cameron’s decision to hire former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, who lied his way thought the Tommy Sheridan trial, may end up costing Cameron his job. But all the big business parties have “danced the dance” with News International for years. Murdoch was a regular and welcome visitor at No 10 Downing Street to visit both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

In Scotland the SNP have been strangely silent over the scandal. Alex Salmond has barely commented, so desperate is he to avoid the obvious questions about his and the SNP’s own relationship with News International. First Minister Salmond welcomed Murdoch with open arms in 2007 when he opened News International’s new printing presses in Scotland. The Sun backed the SNP in the recent 2011 Scottish elections and the SNP leadership have regularly met with News International before and since the election.

The depth of the collaboration between the Metropolitan police and News International raises many questions as to whether there was a similar relationship in Scotland. The Tommy Sheridan case hinged on the unprecedented decision by the Scottish Crown to pursue a perjury inquiry following Tommy’s 2006 defamation victory over the NoW. Lothian and Borders police carried out that inquiry and millions was spent trying to secure a conviction of Tommy Sheridan. Andy Coulson and other News International figures gave evidence that subsequently has been proved to be false. Tommy Sheridan should be released immediately and a full investigation carried out into this political vendetta.      

The hacking scandal underlines yet again the crying need for a political alternative to the literal and moral corruption of the main capitalist parties. A mass working class party would offer genuine “clean hands” in contrast to the toxic stink of the current political elite. A party that would help lead a mass struggle against the savage cuts and austerity being carried out by the Con-Dem government in Westminster and their SNP and Labour echoes in Scotland.

The Socialist Party, our paper and website as well as those of our sister parties in the  CWI will continue to expose the realities of capitalism and fight for the interests of the working class. A socialist press needs to be even more effective in the wake of the hacking scandal and we will strive to provide a voice for working class solidarity and socialism in the months ahead.